Srinagar: A silent protest by scribes on Tuesday at Press Enclave marked the 23rd day of ban on publication of daily the Kashmir Reader newspaper.
Journalists working in Kashmir, most of them wearing black masks over their faces as a mark of protest, demanded immediate revocation of the ban on the daily.
On October 3, 2016, the publication of Kashmir Reader newspaper was suspended after a government order banned the owner from publishing citing, “its publication disturbs peace in the region” – the charge denied by its editor.
The ban order was issued by the district magistrate, Srinagar, invoking Section 3 of Newspapers Incitement of Offences Act, 1971 and Section 10 of Press and Publication Act, 1989, on grounds that the publication of the daily can “easily incite acts of violence and disturb peace and tranquillity”. The order was served to the owner, printer and publisher of the newspaper on Oct 2nd late evening.
Speaking to reporters on the occasion, senior Journalist Zahir-ud-din said, “it is highly unfortunate that government has not lifted the ban (on Kashmir Reader).”
“This (ban) speaks of their indifference and apathy but we assure our people that we will not succumb,” he said, adding, “we will continue to report the truth. We will continue to report the situation in its right perspective.”
“We will not succumb to these cheap machinations,” he said. “It is in the interest of the government to lift the ban; better understand it sooner the better,” he said, “otherwise it is just exposing their tall claims of democracy and human rights.”
The ban evoked widespread condemnation.
Apart from making it to global publications, the ban was condemned by global watchdog bodies like Amnesty International.
The reputed journalist body like Editors Guild of India also condemned the ban, asking CM Mufti to “review the ban”.
Kashmir Editors Guild termed the government order, banning the newspaper, as “vague and unclear about the charges for which such a harsh step has been taken”.
“Without taking recourse to any other institution in place like court, Information department, they (government) straight away banned the newspaper on a flimsy charge like inciting violence,” Hilal Mir, the editor of Kashmir Reader, has said.
Mir said that government has not specified “like which report they are referring. It is amply clear from ban on a small newspaper that the so-called democratic institutions are in a crisis in Kashmir”.
Many global Journalist bodies termed the ban on Kashmir Reader as “censorship” and “against” the principles of democracy.
The South Asia Media Solidarity Network standing in solidarity with the working journalists and editors of Kashmir condemned the “attempt to silence” Kashmir Reader, saying, “the ban must be immediately revoked and the Kashmir Reader be allowed to publish unhindered.”
Earlier, the working journalists of Kashmir observed silent sit-ins and took out solidarity marches against the ban. They also held a peaceful protest outside director information’s office in Srinagar urging him to revoke the ban.
“Dear friends,” a mail sent by Kashmir Reader management earlier this morning said, “as you are aware, Kashmir Reader was banned on October 2. Since then, thanks to the efforts of the Kashmir Editors’ Guild, we have been in touch with the government regarding the revocation of the ban. During its meeting with the CM, the Guild emphatically pressed for immediate revocation of the ban. Subsequently, the Guild met (and also remained in touch) with some senior officials.”
Besides, the mail added, many of our working colleagues stood by us by participating in protests and through other means also.
“Despite all these efforts, the government is not forthcoming on when the ban would be lifted. Kashmir Reader is therefore holding a protest in this regard on Tuesday (October 25, 2016) at press enclave at 4pm. We request you to participate in the protest so as to press the government to revoke the ban.”